GIVEN present circumstances and past allegiances, Steve Bruce could be forgiven his heightened elation after Emile Heskey pushed Wigan nearer safety and the title closer to Old Trafford.

But after spending much of his time suppressing a broad smile at his part in what looks like another Manchester United trophy, Bruce claimed with a straight face that Heskey should be back in the England fold.

The Wigan manager has long since championed the cause of his striker. He first worked with Heskey at Birmingham, and even if the striker turned 30 in January, Bruce remains convinced he can still do a job for England.

Bruce said: “Emile is the best centre-forward of his type and I know for a fact that Michael Owen enjoys playing with him.

“He may never have been a prolific goal scorer but he has pace and good technique. Of his type, who else is there?

“He would be the perfect foil for either Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney and I would have thought that with the lack of English centre-forwards about he would have an outstanding chance.”

Bruce, who reluctantly let Heskey join Wigan when Birmingham were relegated in 2006, has never been shy in shouting about the striker’s unique talent. The man himself has been less vocal.

But in the aftermath of a goal against Chelsea that proved he can still have an impact on the biggest stages, Heskey made it clear he still has international ambitions.

“There aren’t many players like myself,” he said. “I am not like Nicolas Anelka; I can’t do the tricks that he does. And I’m not like Michael Owen.

I know what I am good at, so I do that.”

Heskey said a point last Monday is not enough to see Wigan clear of relegation worries.

He feels they need one more win, but agreed his goal has almost certainly taken the title beyond Chelsea’s grasp, insisting the ball is in United’s court. “It’s theirs to lose now,” he added.

Team-mate and former Chelsea player Mario Melchiot said: “If you are three points behind United with a game in hand and you still have to play them then you can do something special.

“But now you are looking at United losing a game, which in your heart of hearts you know won’t happen.”